Melbourne University Alumni Magazine
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Melbourne University Alumni Magazine —2009— contents melbourne university editorial board change of address: magazine 2009 Silvia Dropulich – Writer & Editor, Marketing and If you would like to be added to the Melbourne Communications, (Chair) University Magazine mailing list, or report a Melbourne University Magazine is a publica- Leonie Boxtel – Alumni Relations change of address, please direct your enquiries tion for alumni and friends of the University Manager, Advancement to: of Melbourne. All correspondence relating to Professor James Angus – Dean, Medicine, Den- Phone: +61 3 8344 1751 the editorial content of the magazine should be tistry and Health Sciences Fax: +61 3 9348 0013 addressed to: Dr Philip Batterham – Associate Professor and Email: [email protected] Reader, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Web: www.unimelb.edu.au/alumni The Editor: Silvia Dropulich Biotechnology Melbourne University Magazine Ben Coffey – Campaign Manager, Marketing and Cover: Cover image, courtesy of Reprieve Austra- Marketing and Communications Communications lia: www.reprieve.org.au The University of Melbourne Lisa Montague – Communications Manager, Fac- Victoria 3010 ulty of the Victorian College of the Arts Views expressed by contributors are not neces- Phone: +61 3 8344 7999 Suzanne Dixon – Director Advancement, Faculty of sarily endorsed by the University Fax: +61 3 8344 4921 Economics and Commerce Email: [email protected] Yee Fui Ng – International Law ISSN: 1442–1349 story details Welcome to the 2009 Melbourne University Alumni Magazine he University is strongly committed to life-long learn- a significant impact around the world. ing , a concept reflected in this inspirational issue of MUM also considers the impact of the Black Saturday the Melbourne University Alumni Magazine. Wheth- bushfires in February and how the desire to be part of a posi- Ter it is through our public lecture program, exclusive alumni tive response to the tragedy is fuelling new research and events, faculty reunions, the University’s Community Access technology in a range of professions. Bushfire Royal Com- Program or one of our Graduate Schools, I encourage you to missioner Bernard Teague shares his thoughts about how a re-connect with both your University and each other. Royal Commission can play a role in healing. In a highlight for MUM 2009 and a first for the magazine, After more than three years driving major curriculum we have sourced established journalists, writers, photogra- review and change and 18 months into the successful imple- phers and artists from our alumni community as contributors mentation of the Melbourne Model, recently-retired Provost to create a magazine that is both for and by alumni. This year Peter McPhee speaks frankly about the challenges of imple- the magazine will also be available online at (web address TBC) menting change and the University’s vision for the future. with links to podcasts and additional articles and images. Over the past year, many alumni have made generous This year we take a look at some key events and issues of donations to the University and their valuable support helps the past year and examine the diverse perspectives of our fund the University’s research activity and scholarships for global alumni community. Among the articles in this issue students in need. In September 2009 the University will we hear from new and established alumni voices in the in- launch its annual telephone appeal and we will be contacting ternational and local financial community on how the global you again – our alumni and friends of the University - to ask financial crisis is changing attitudes and behaviours in the for your continued support in these important areas. If you financial world. are on our email list, you will have received an invitation to In June this year the University’s Festival of Ideas put the engage with our important review of the University’s Growing spotlight on sustainability and climate change, both of which Esteem strategy. Thank you for your thoughtful responses. continue to be a high priority for governments around the I would also like to draw your attention to a very exciting world. We asked five young alumni with a professional interest and special alumni event on September 30 when we invite in sustainability to join us for a robust discussion about how to all alumni to a private viewing of the highly-anticipated create a sustainable future. Featured on the cover of this issue, Pompeii exhibition at Melbourne Museum. See our events Peter Ho, Dr Brendan Winkle, Tanya Ha, Arron Woods and Ol- calendar on page XX for booking details. ivia Davis provide both a broad view of sustainable practice Please enjoy reading your 2009 edition of the Melbourne today and hope for a sustainable future tomorrow. University Alumni Magazine. Should you have any thoughts, Global health is profiled in an article exploring how the reflections or concerns, we welcome your feedback via the World Health Organisation’s report on the social indicators Alumni Relations Office at [email protected] for health is influencing programs to combat health issues in both developing and western nations. On the frontline of Glyn Davis health research and clinical practice, our alumni are making Vice-Chancellor page 1 melbourne university magazine 2009 —contributors— As well as staff and student contributors, this year the Melbourne University Alumni Magazine asked many experienced alumni journalists, writers, photographers and artists to contribute to the magazine, creating a publication that is both for and by alumni. Carolina Bodin land, was published in 2008. She won the Dr Belinda Nemec (B.Mus 1990, PhD 2006) Carolina is a recent graduate of the Uni- inaugural Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize. Dr Belinda Nemec is the Cultural Collec- versity’s Publishing and Communications Dave Hoskin (BA, 1997, Bachelor Film tions Co-ordinator and is the editor of the course. She assisted with MUAM during and TV 2002) University’s twice-yearly magazine, Uni- the final semester of her course. Dave Hoskin’s writing has appeared in versity of Melbourne Collections. Rod Brooks (Bachelor Vet. Sci. 1980) Eureka Street, Metro and Pathway. His is Selina Ou (BA Fine Art 1999, B Fine Art After graduating from Veterinary Science passionate about film and as well as writ- (Hons) 2002) at Melbourne, Rod practiced as a vet in Aus- ing about it has made several short films Photographer Selina Ou was born in Malay- tralia and Zimbabwe before moving into which have screened at festivals around sia in 1977 and currently lives and works in marketing and working in the pharmaceu- the world. Melbourne. In 2006, Ou was commissioned tical and software sectors. He now works Dylan Martorell by the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, Senior Manager, Marketing and Business Scottish born Dylan Martorell is an art- to create a body of work about sport. Ou has Development at RMIT. ist and musician, and has been working had several international residencies and Scott Cameron commercially as an illustrator for about her works have been included in many na- Scott Cameron is a professional photog- four years. His music and art practice fre- tional and international group exhibitions. rapher specialising in food, fashion and quently intersect and merge together and Nadine Raydan people. He has worked on award winning he work has been influenced by his travels Nadine is a recent graduate of the Univer- assignments for a range of clients across in North Africa, South East Asia, Japan and sity’s Publishing and Communications advertising, editorial and corporate areas. Mexico. Among his clients include Tokion, course. She assisted with MUAM during Olivia Davis (BA 1991) Vitra, Nieves and the New York Times. the final semester of her course. Olivia is the editor of Sprinkla magazine, Sam McMillan (BA Media and Comm., Ben Sanders a free, online magazine which strives to 2006) Bens’ father gave him a sketchbook for his “diffuse information in a way that is as re- Sam McMillan is more widely known by eleventh birthday, and by age 12 had landed freshing as the shower of droplets from the his professional name, Sammy J. A Mel- his first paid job creating 32 drawings for old garden sprinkler” .Each issue of Sprinka bourne-based comedian, actor and writer, a sticker sheet. He spent every summer explores ways that people can bring an eco- since graduating from Melbourne Uni- throughout his teenage years illustrating perspective on how to connect, grow, eat, versity in 2006, he has built a reputation more stickers for the same publisher. He’s explore and invest. as one of the most original and inventive been drawing ever since. He is influenced Oslo Davis comedians on the international circuit, by commercial illustration from the 20 Oslo Davis’ pen and ink people have ap- performing in Edinburgh, London’s West years preceding the Second World War, ap- peared in The New York Times, The Age, End, and on the local television shows preciating the artists of the 1940s through BusinessWeek, Diplomat Magazine. His Spicks & Specks and Good News Week. To to the 1960s. work has also appeared in various journals see more of Sammy J’s work visit www. Dave Tacon (BA (Hons) 2002) including Meanjin, the Sleepers Almanac, sammy-j.com. Dave is a Melbourne based photographer Tango and Going Down Swinging. Sonia Kretschmar (G.Dip. Film and TV, and writer. His photographs have appeared He draws a weekly cartoon in The 2003) in national and international magazines Sunday Age called Overheard. In 2007 he Illustrator Sonia Kretschmar origi- and newspapers and his phot-documentary edited and produced Conceived on a Tram, nally wanted to be a graphic designer but work is held in a number of Australian which also featured the work of 15 other launched herself as an illustrator after permanent collections.